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News Briefs 12/20/19

December 20, 2019

Cape Gazette posts holiday deadlines
Both retail and advertising deadlines will be moved up for the next two weeks due to the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The deadlines for the Friday, Dec. 27 issue will be Monday, Dec. 23, at noon. The deadline for the Friday, Jan. 3 issue will be noon, Monday, Dec. 30. Cape Gazette offices will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 25, and Wednesday, Jan. 1.

Milton board approves variance resolution
Milton Board of Adjustment unanimously approved a resolution formally approving a variance for a Sussex Street property owner to have less than the minimum required square footage. The variance allows ECS Capital LLC, owner of 401 Sussex St., to have a lot that is 9,912 square feet instead of the minimum 10,000 square feet. The board originally heard the case at its Nov. 27 meeting, but needed a resolution to give formal approval to the application. 

Rehoboth announces holiday schedule 
In observance of Christmas and New Year’s, Rehoboth Beach City Hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave., will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 25, and Wednesday, Jan. 1.

Residential trash pickup is on the regular schedule during the two holiday weeks. Go to www.cityofrehoboth.com/residents/trash-recycling for a trash collection calendar. For more information, contact the Communications Department at 302-227-6181 Ext. 522 or communications@cityofrehoboth.com.

Henlopen Acres sets holiday schedule
In observance of Christmas and New Year’s, Henlopen Acres Town Hall, 104 Tidewaters, will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 25, and Wednesday, Jan. 1.

LED streetlights installed in Rehoboth
Delmarva Power recently installed LED streetlights on Baltimore and Wilmington avenues in Rehoboth Beach. The LED lights offer enhanced reliability and durability, lasting up to 10 times longer than traditional bulbs. There are 24 lights along the first two blocks of each street that were replaced.

According to a Dec. 16 press release from the city, the replacement reduces energy consumption, with a monthly energy savings of $2.24 for 150-watt lights, $1.47 for 100-watt lights and $.89 for 70-watt lights.

The city plans to work with Delmarva Power to have LED lighting installed on other main streets and intersections in the future. For more information, contact the Communications Department at 302-227-6181 Ext. 522 or communications@cityofrehoboth.com.

Rehoboth mayor participates in walk
Rehoboth Beach Mayor Paul Kuhns joined The Trust for Public Land, National Recreation and Park Association, and Urban Land Institute in launching a “10-minute walk” parks advocacy campaign. According to a press release from the city Dec. 17, the goal is that all Americans and all residents of Rehoboth Beach live within a 10-minute walk of a high-quality park or green space.

“Every great city ensures that people have easy access to parks,” said Kuhns, in a prepared statement. “By continuing to invest in our neighborhood park system, we are creating inviting, welcoming and dynamic spaces that everyone can enjoy.” According to the press release, studies show that high-quality parks provide a wide range of benefits to residents and cities themselves, including physical and mental health, economic, community-building and environmental.

The full list of mayors/cities endorsing the 10-minute walk standard can be found at www.10minutewalk.org. For more information contact the communications department at 302-227-6181 Ext. 522 or communications@cityofrehoboth.com.

Sussex applies for wastewater permit
Sussex County has submitted an application to construct approximately 1,650 linear feet of 8-inch sanitary sewer force main on the east side of Route 1, about 400 feet north of the intersection with Rehoboth Avenue.

According to a Dec. 18 notice from Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Water, the purpose of the force main construction is to allow Sussex County to potentially divert flows from pump station 204 to pump station 202.

A public hearing concerning the above application will not be held unless the DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin determines a hearing is in the public interest or if a written meritorious request for a hearing is received on or before Wednesday, Jan. 1. A request for a public hearing shall be deemed meritorious if it exhibits a familiarity with the application and provides a reasoned statement of the permit’s probable impact.

Questions regarding the applications and plans are available for inspection by contacting Keith Kooker, DNREC Environment Finance, Enterprise Business Park, 97 Commerce Way, Suite 106, Dover, DE 19904 or phone 302-739-9941.

Rehoboth approves parking variance
By unanimous vote, 4-0, the Rehoboth Beach Board of Adjustment approved a variance request related to parking at 38 Oak Ave. during a meeting Dec. 16. The owner, William Nolan, was seeking relief from the required number of parking spaces, four, which were triggered because of significant renovations to the property. Previously, the property had only two parking spaces. Ultimately, Nolan agreed to have four parking spaces on his property, as long as the board approved a variance on the required width of a driveway, so it could fit between a fence on the eastern edge of the property and a tree in the front yard.

The board also agreed to rehear a case related to a property at 19 Baltimore Ave., which is the proposed location of a hotel.

Sussex County offices closed three days
Sussex County government offices will be closed Monday, Dec. 23, Tuesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesday, Dec. 25. Sussex County Council will not meet Tuesday, Dec. 24, or Tuesday, Dec. 31. The next regularly scheduled meeting is at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown.

Sussex council denies two applications
At its Dec. 17 meeting, Sussex County Council denied a conditional-use application filed on behalf of Vincent Kinack for two multifamily units on a 3.4-acre parcel at 21167 Short Road, Harbeson. Council rejected the application 5-0 because the applicant did not appear at a scheduled county council hearing. “Our policy is without a record, council has to deny it,” said county attorney J. Everett Moore.

In addition, council voted 5-0 to deny a conditional-use application filed on behalf of Thomas and Judy Munce and Napoleon Hernandez to amend an existing conditional use to allow for a nightclub and an electronic message sign on a 3-acre parcel at 12327 DuPont Blvd., Ellendale. Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended denial because the applicant did not appear during a scheduled public hearing.

They also denied a rehearing request because the applicant missed the deadline to file for a rehearing. Without a recommendation and record from the commission, council voted to deny the application.

Sussex council trims density of apartments
With several amendments, Sussex County Council approved two controversial applications for apartments on a 4-acre parcel near Ocean View. On the recommendation of Councilman Doug Hudson of Dagsboro at its Dec. 17 meeting, council voted to reduce the number of apartments from 45 units to 16 units. Hudson said there are no other developments in that area close to the proposed density of 12 units per acre.

At its Nov. 14 meeting, Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended approval of the two applications. Many area residents testified against the applications at planning and zoning and county council hearings citing density, traffic and drainage issues. Opponents presented petitions and letters signed by 650 people against the apartment project.

Gulfstream Development LLC, Kent Apartments, had filed for a rezoning from AR-1, agricultural-residential, to GR, general residential, and for a conditional use for 45 multifamily apartment units on Parkerhouse Road and Muddy Neck Road.

Included in other amendments, the developer must clean out a ditch on the parcel and provide maintenance. If the ditch is moved, it must be approved by Sussex Conservation District and maintained to the agency’s requirements.

Sussex defers office application
On the recommendation of Sussex County Councilman Irwin “I.G.” Burton of Lewes, council deferred a decision on a conditional-use application filed by Steven and Helen Falcone for an office on a quarter-acre lot at 17662 Beaver Dam Road near Lewes.

At council’s Dec. 17 meeting, Burton said he wanted conditions of approval for the application, which was rejected by Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission. Burton said the record was left open for the applicant to address concerns expressed by the commission by submitting a new site plan to ensure the existing building would comply with setbacks. “I want a condition in place so the applicant will not go back to the board of adjustment for a variance and undo everything,” he said.

County attorney J. Everett Moore said he was not sure a legal condition could be written prohibiting the applicant from filing for a variance. “I’m not sure that would be proper, but I want to know,” Moore said. “I like the application,” Burton said. “I need time to put conditions on it and not make it any worse.” The application will be placed on a future council agenda.

Sussex, DelDOT will set district workshop
At its Dec. 17 meeting, Sussex County Council members agreed to allow county staff and state transportation officials to meet and draft an agreement and also schedule a public workshop for the proposed Henlopen Transportation Improvement District. County Administrator Todd Lawson said it’s possible a workshop could be scheduled in early 2020. Once the workshop occurs, the agreement can be placed on planning and zoning and county council agendas for public hearings.

A Delaware Department of Transportation page on the county planning and zoning website at www.sussexcountyde.gov contains information about the transportation improvement district, which would be a first in the county.

 

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